Costco Rexton Trax 42 (Product Information)

@rasmus_braun said:

Outdoor/Traffic turns off the adaptive directional microphone system and forces the microphone mode to be omnidirectional rather than automatic. While running this program, the hearing aid won’t focus on finding a speech source and reducing noise from other directions. It has the same wind noise reduction setting as the Automatic program.

Thanks for that info. Then how is that different from 360?

@tribalrose said:

Thanks for that info. Then how is that different from 360?

The iFocus 360 program is intended to be used in noisy situations with people speaking behind you or next to you, such as in a car or walking down a sidewalk. It uses binaural beamforming to suppress noise from one side while enhancing the speech signal in both ears. The feature is part of the Automatic program and activates when the hearing aids detect you’re in a car environment.

Technically I’m only halfway through my 90-day trial with the Trax 42s, but I’m so taken with them that the last time I was at Costco and had to take them out for the audi to do something, I found myself watching them like a hawk as if afraid they’d disappear. I’m also wearing them all day every day, when with both the other aids I trialed, if I was going to be home alone all day it would cross my mind I should wear them - and I’d find a reason not to.

However, I never asked the audi about wax guards, and she never said. I assume they have them and they need to be replaced every once in a while? How often? And is it something I’m better off taking them to Costco for than trying to do myself?

@tribalrose said:

However, I never asked the audi about wax guards, and she never said. I assume they have them and they need to be replaced every once in a while? How often? And is it something I’m better off taking them to Costco for than trying to do myself?

I asked the Costco rep how often to change the domes - he said every 4 to 6 months. I assume the wax guards will be done at the same time, but maybe on a more frequent schedule. He said he can show me how to do that, but he made it clear that he would rather do it. I pick up the Trax42 on Thursday (or earlier if they come in sooner) so I will be sure to ask specifically about the wax guards.

One other thing he said about regular cleaning. Using a firm toothbrush with the bristles pointed up, each morning run the dome over the bristles so the wax falls down. Doing it bristles down will just clog up the dome.

Hope that info helps!

@doubledown said:

alcohol swab the parts that touch your ear canal if you find that things are getting painful. this is after you’ve brushed them. possibly dip that brush in alcohol and/or peroxide once in a while after cleaning as ear wax contains germs and viruses. I would certainly clean that tooth brush prior to using it too. boil water in the microwave and then dip the tooth brush into it to sterilize.

Thanks - the toothbrush idea seems good in theory, but I am not keen on the cleanliness factor and where I can store it between uses. alcohol wipes would be my preference since it is one time use/disposable.

My Trax42 came with a little tool that has a small brush on one end for cleaning the wax guard, a magnet in the middle for changing batteries, and a metal loop on the other end. I can’t figure out what the loop is for, but I do go to Costco tomorrow for a follow-up.

I believe the loop is for scooping out any wax that is deposited in the open vents of the dome.

Bob

@doubledown said:

people have written that the charger/dryer lead to rust issues with the aids. you may want to occasionally leave the aids out of the charger with the battery compartment open to dry out and then before you go to bet put them in the charger.

Which people and where did they write that I never heard of such a thing.

I doubt there are any materials in a hearing aid that would actually rust.

Also: Wax guards with domes? I’ve never heard of such a thing. Have never had wax guards of any kind with Domes or molds. I thought wax guards would be more specific to IIC’s

The Trax42 has wax guards. I have 8mm open domes, and wax guards.

@bobwal said:

I have the Trax 42 with open domes. My Costco guy didn’t tell me about wax guards. What do they look like?

@Evil_Scientist said:

I agree…never seen a wax guard.

They look like this:

Hi, new to this forum. Just picked up my Trax 42s last week and so far I am very impressed, with one exception. First, I have had HA for the last 20 years, this will be my 4th set, but first set BTE. I still need some tweaks for the general setting, but I have a major problem with phones. I have a new cordless AT&T phone system with TL90073 handsets and a Samsung Galaxy 4S cell phone. Costco programmed a Tcoil setting into the HA, but it does not seem to connect to either phone system. I have ordered the streamer (neck loop) and will pick it up next week during my two week tuneup appointment. I don’t have 100% confidence in the hearing aid dispenser (not an audiologist). Does anyone have any suggestions for fixing this?

The audi was free when I was in Costco shopping today, so I stopped by and asked her about wax guards. She pulled out a packet of them and showed me. The packet includes a tool for taking out the old one and putting in the new one. On my next appointment, she’s going to change mine out so I can watch and see how it’s done. If it looks like something I don’t want to deal with I can leave them with her to change instead of doing it myself, but learning how would be more convenient. I’m thinking maybe if she does one I can try the other right then. She said she’d change them any time she could see wax on the receiver instead of trying to remove it. Her assistant laughed and said be sure to have a magnifying glass, and since my eyes are as old as my ears, I already knew I’d need that.

My Costco gave me a packet of wax guards as well as a card of extra domes.